Featured
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Article
| Open Access
Evolution of a minimal cell
An engineered minimal cell evolves to escape the negative consequences of genome streamlining.
- R. Z. Moger-Reischer
- , J. I. Glass
- & J. T. Lennon
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Article |
Distinct gene clusters drive formation of ferrosome organelles in bacteria
A fez gene cluster drives formation of ferrosomes, a distinct lipid-bounded organelle for iron storage, in diverse bacterial species.
- Carly R. Grant
- , Matthieu Amor
- & Arash Komeili
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Article |
A gut-derived metabolite alters brain activity and anxiety behaviour in mice
The gut-derived molecule 4-ethylphenol influences complex behaviours in mice through effects on oligodendrocyte function and myelin patterning in the brain.
- Brittany D. Needham
- , Masanori Funabashi
- & Sarkis K. Mazmanian
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Article |
The functional proteome landscape of Escherichia coli
Thermal proteome profiling combined with a reverse genetics approach provides insights into the abundance and thermal stability of the global proteome of Escherichia coli.
- André Mateus
- , Johannes Hevler
- & Mikhail M. Savitski
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Article |
Dietary trehalose enhances virulence of epidemic Clostridium difficile
Two hypervirulent ribotypes of the enteric pathogen Clostridium difficile, RT027 and RT078, have independently acquired unique mechanisms to metabolize low concentrations of the disaccharide trehalose, suggesting a correlation between the emergence of these ribotypes and the widespread adoption of trehalose in the human diet.
- J. Collins
- , C. Robinson
- & R. A. Britton
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Letter |
Selective depletion of uropathogenic E. coli from the gut by a FimH antagonist
Both F17-like and type 1 pili promote intestinal colonization in mouse colonic crypts, and the high-affinity mannoside M4284 reduces intestinal colonization of uropathogenic Escherichia coli while simultaneously treating urinary tract infections without disrupting the composition of the gut microbiota.
- Caitlin N. Spaulding
- , Roger D. Klein
- & Scott J. Hultgren
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Letter |
Deletion of a mycobacterial divisome factor collapses single-cell phenotypic heterogeneity
The mycobacterial protein LamA functions as an inhibitor of cell wall synthesis at the nascent cell pole, contributing to asymmetry in polar growth, and could represent a much-needed target for the development of anti-tuberculosis therapies.
- E. Hesper Rego
- , Rebecca E. Audette
- & Eric J. Rubin
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Letter |
Prophage WO genes recapitulate and enhance Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility
The discovery of two genes encoded by prophage WO from Wolbachia that functionally recapitulate and enhance cytoplasmic incompatibility in arthropods is the first inroad in solving the genetic basis of reproductive parasitism.
- Daniel P. LePage
- , Jason A. Metcalf
- & Seth R. Bordenstein
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Letter |
Mobile genes in the human microbiome are structured from global to individual scales
Mobile genes, which can be transferred between bacterial species in the microbiome to impart properties such as antibiotic resistance, are reflective of human activity and local diets.
- I. L. Brito
- , S. Yilmaz
- & E. J. Alm
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Letter
| Open Access
Culturing of ‘unculturable’ human microbiota reveals novel taxa and extensive sporulation
A novel approach is used to cultivate a substantial proportion of the human gut microbiota, representing an important step forward in characterizing the role of these bacteria in health and disease.
- Hilary P. Browne
- , Samuel C. Forster
- & Trevor D. Lawley
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Letter |
Transferred interbacterial antagonism genes augment eukaryotic innate immune function
Documented cases of horizontal gene transfer from bacteria to eukaryotes are rare, but now, not only is a new class of transferred genes identified, the function of one representative is also demonstrated in its new setting, where it controls bacterial growth.
- Seemay Chou
- , Matthew D. Daugherty
- & Joseph D. Mougous
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Research Highlights |
Gene behind MRSA's menace
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News & Views |
Protection from the outside
Protein folding is a high-stakes process, with cell dysfunction and death being the unforgiving penalties for failure. Work in bacteria hints that organisms manage this process beyond the boundaries of the cytoplasm — and even the cell.
- Evan T. Powers
- & William E. Balch
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Article
| Open Access
A human gut microbial gene catalogue established by metagenomic sequencing
Deep metagenomic sequencing and characterization of the human gut microbiome from healthy and obese individuals, as well as those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, provide the first insights into this gene set and how much of it is shared among individuals. The minimal gut metagenome as well as the minimal gut bacterial genome is also described.
- Junjie Qin
- , Ruiqiang Li
- & Jun Wang
Bile salt hydrolase acyltransferase activity expands bile acid diversity